Curfew clamped in sensitive areas of Kandhamal district

PHULBANI(ORISSA): Additional forces were deployed and curfew clamped in nine sensitive areas of Orissa's Kandhamal district on Thursday in the wake of fresh violence and arson in the region.

Nearly 100 houses and a couple of churches and prayer houses were either set afire or damaged in about half-a-dozen places under Daringibadi, G Udaygiri and Tikabali police stations in the wee hours and late last night, sources said.

In a bid to check further flare up, curfew was clamped in nine places of the district where 42 companies of security forces including CRPF and Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed since violence broke out after the killing of VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati.

About 30 houses and a church were burnt and damaged at Sikacheta village under Badapanga gram panchayat in Daringibadi area by an unruly mob, police said.

In a similar attack at Telenga village in G Udaygiri area, 20 houses were damaged, they said adding as many as 55 houses and a church were damaged at Beheragaon under Tikabali police station area.

Though additional forces were rushed to several sensitive areas to control the situation, movement of security personnel was badly affected due to obstructions like huge logs and boulders placed by miscreants on roads.

Road blockades took place at around 42 places in Tikabali and G Udaygiri areas, making it virtually impossible for security forces to proceed, according to Kandhamal district collector Krishan Kumar.